Germany - famous primarily for the world-class Grape/riesling">Riesling produced in its Mosel region - is entering a New phase in its wine history. At the beginning of the 21st century, the country's winemakers are convincingly proving that they are good for more than just Mosel Riesling. High-quality German Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is now emerging from various regions, including Baden, the Palatinate and even the tiny Ahr Valley.
Overlooking a much lesser period of glory - the 1970s and 1980s - Germany has a Long and illustrious history of viticulture.
The Romans established the country's first Vineyards along the banks of the Moselle River near present-day Trier. In the third century AD, plantings spread to several neighbouring valleys, mainly those of the Moselle's tributaries. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church, especially the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a great influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Two of the most famous names in German wine - the Rheingau vineyards Schloss Johannisberg and Kloster Eberbach - were established as monasteries and have been producing wine for almost 900 years.
Germany's largest grape variety, Riesling, was first documented in the Rheingau in 1435, and found its way to the Moselle shortly afterwards. In 1720, Johannisberg Castle became the first large vineyard to be planted exclusively with this "superior" variety. In the mid to late 18th century, botrytised wines developed, and by the 19th century, Rhine wines were selling at prices higher than those of the first growths of Bordeaux.
The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, expanding plantings to less favourable sites and increasing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised.
Pinot Blanc is a grape variety that originated in Burgundy, mutated from Pinot Gris. Today, it is grown in Alsace where it is called klevner when blended with auxerrois. The continental climate, with its cold winters and hot summers, is particularly suited to pinot blanc. It is resistant to frost in winter and in summer, the roots draw the minerals it needs from the warm soil. Its bunches are made up of small berries with thick skins and melting pulp that produce fruity, spicy wines, balanced between acidity and alcohol. pinot blanc is also used for crémants and sparkling wines. Pinot Blanc is also used for Crémant and sparkling wines. It is widely grown in Italy, where it covers almost 7,000 hectares, and is also found in Germany, Austria, Canada and South Africa.
sparkling wines from the region of Germany go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of stuffed squid in the sétoise sauce, butternut and goat cheese gratin or duck breast and roasted peaches.
On the nose in the region of Germany often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, citrus fruit or red fruit and sometimes also flavors of microbio, non oak or earth.
